ABC’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night program off the air this week is headline news that means what it says: the era when celebrities could hurl political poison and expect to be insulated by clout is ending. The network announced an indefinite suspension after Kimmel’s monologue about the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk sparked a nationwide backlash.
What set off the firestorm was Kimmel’s suggestion on-air that the accused shooter should be framed as part of the “MAGA” base, a charge that many saw as reckless politicization of a tragic crime and an unfair smear of millions of Americans. His remarks rapidly drew condemnation from viewers, station owners, and even federal regulators who warned that broadcasters owe the public better.
Local station groups didn’t sit back and wait for corporate spin — Nexstar and other affiliates moved to stop airing the show, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr publicly condemned the remarks and signaled the agency could act if necessary. That kind of immediate market and regulatory pushback shows the real-world consequences when media personalities abandon decency for cheap political point-scoring.
Make no mistake: conservatives believe in the First Amendment, but the First Amendment never meant freedom from consequences. Kimmel can say what he wants, but communities and employers can respond when his words cross lines and wound grieving Americans. This is accountability, not censorship — and it’s long overdue in an entertainment culture that has been allowed to weaponize grief for ratings.
Hollywood elites and Disney executives ought to stop pretending they’re surprised when their shock-jocks go too far. For years the late-night echo chamber has trafficked in the same tired plays: mock, accuse, and then plead free speech when the backlash comes. If networks keep tolerating partisan grandstanding that tears at the social fabric, viewers and station owners will keep voting with the only thing that matters to corporations — their wallets.
Conservative viewers and local broadcasters deserve programming that respects decency and local values, not nighttime sermons that paint half the country with a broad brush. Nexstar’s decision to preempt the show was a clear message that community standards still matter and that there are consequences for exploiting tragedy for partisan gain.
If anything positive can come from this episode, let it be a reset: media figures will think twice before weaponizing grief and lying about motives, and networks will remember their duty to the public. America thrives when speech is robust but responsible, and when private companies and viewers hold elites accountable. Hardworking patriots should demand nothing less.
